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SY Ena at the museum

For years it’s been under covers, almost out of sight, and seemed untouchable on the rare occasions it was out on the water – but now the harbour’s princess SY Ena has begun to shed her mystique- and the museum is lucky enough to provide a venue for her coming out.

The classic lines, clipper bow and counter stern, raked spars and funnel, an intricate, beautifully engineered steam engine in immaculate condition, and an unbelievable varnish finish, SY Ena stops everyone in their tracks, and has them lost for words when they go aboard.

SY Ena at the museum- Photographer Andrew Frolows ANMM

SY Ena is considered one of the finest examples of an Edwardian period steam yacht in the world. It was designed by renown Sydney naval architect Walter Reeks and built in 1900 by WM Ford Boatbuilders just across the water from the museum in Berrys Bay. When launched it showed that Australians could design and build a luxury craft of a standard equivalent to the highest level in Europe and North America, in a period when the country was still relatively isolated from these centres of commerce and industry.

The newspapers heralded its launch –“A new 100-ton steam yacht which Ford of Sydney is building for Mr TA Dibbs is expected to be launched early next month. It is said to be one of the finest specimens of a modern steam yacht in the Australian colonies.“

and then covered the day – 8th December 1900-

“LAUNCH OF MR T.A. DIBBS’ NEW STEAM YACHT.
Shortly after 9.0’clock on Saturday morning a handsome steam yacht, built for Mr TA Dibbs was launched from Mr Fords yard, Berrys Bay. As she left the ways she was christened ‘Ena’ by Miss Dorothy Dibbs.“

SY Ena early 1900s – Dibbs Family Album ANMM Collection

Named after Dibb’s wife Tryphena, it was used on Sydney Harbour for entertaining guests on the weekends, watching the yacht racing in grand style. Then war came, and renamed HMAS Sleuth, it was painted a dark grey all over and armed with a three pounder on the foredeck, and used to patrol Torres Strait for armed German raiders. It proved unsuitable for this work and was then used for patrol work on the east coast before finally serving as a naval training ship on Sydney Harbour.

After the war it went back into private ownership and in 1933 when it was sold to a Tasmanian to work as a trading vessel shipping apples, a typical Tasmanian cargo and trade. This operation did not last long, the owner was caught up in legal disputes and SY Ena was seized by creditors for a long period.

It had little use until 1940 when the Roche Bros bought it and set the vessel up for trawling work and harvesting scallops. In 1945 they installed a diesel engine for better economy. A wet well was added for keeping live fish, refrigeration was put in aft, the stem was cut back and the vessel renamed Aurore – Goddess of Dawn. It still attracted attention, with the Hobart Examiner running a story in May 1946:

“ Former Luxury Steam Yacht, Naval Patrol, Now in Scallop Industry.
Among the most beautiful pleasure craft in Australian water years ago, the ocean going steam yacht Ena is now one of the ships engaged in the Hobart scallop trade. Her life has been full of ups and downs since 1900 and she is far from being permanently down.”

The ups and downs continued- the Roche Bros operated it for 30 years, even taking Aurore up to Queensland fishing for shark. They sold it in 1974 and the in 1981 it hit an unidentified object in the D’Entrecasteau Channel and sank, but was not down for long.

At this time Sydney businessman Pat Burke had been seeking a suitable craft similar to the Lady Hopetoun for use as a charter vessel on Sydney Harbour and his shipwright Nick Masterman recommended SY Ena, even though it was still underwater. A deal was finally completed and Burke formed a syndicate with flamboyant stockbroker Renee Rivkin and his solicitor David Baffksy. The three oversaw Masterman’s lavish reconstruction which was completed in 1986. SY Ena then steamed to Fremantle for the America’s Cup. Once back on Sydney Harbour it was used as a charter vessel until it was once again seized by creditors in lieu of payment by one of the owners. SY Ena was bought in 1991 at auction by a private buyer and then seen only rarely until now.

The new owner has allowed SY Ena’s covers to come off, and the splendid vessel is moored at the museum for a short period before it moves to Melbourne to be a charter vessel on Port Phillip. It is open to the public for wharf side viewing during the morning- and bring sunglasses- it’s dazzling!

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David Payne

David Payne is Curator of Historic Vessels at Australian National Maritime Museum, and through the Australian Register of Historic Vessels he works closely with heritage boat owners throughout Australia researching and advising on their craft and their social connections. David has also been a yacht designer and documented many of the museum’s vessels with extensive drawings. He has had a wide sailing experience, from Lasers and 12-foot skiffs through to long ocean passages.